Ladder hinge for silo doors



Jan 9, 1923., LMlfifiZ. C. MFPUETZ.

LADDER HINGE FOR SILO DOORS.

' FILED Junta. 1m. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Jan. 9, 1923,

c. M. PUETZ.

LADDER HENGE FOR SILO DOORS.

FILED JUNE a, $922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Git-key; mug

ll' atented ,llano til, llllilfidm fllhlE'lUUE lti. PUETZ, F MANTADOB, NORTH DAKOTA.

LADDER HINGE FOB; SILK) HOURS.

application filed June a,

To all 207mm it mag ,ccmce-m:

Be it known that l, CLnrUs M. Fnnrz, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mantador, in the county oi Richland and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ladder Hinges for Silo Doors, or which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ladder hinges for silo doors and has particular reference to a plurality of ladder sections, each associated with an independent silo door with each had der section formed of hinged members connected tothe frame of the silo and. the adjacent door to be swung inwardly of the side wall of the silo through the door opening when the doorisin an open position.

The invention further embodies in a lad der hinge for silo doors of the above type,

the provision oi a weight adapted :tor selective connection with the desired door for holding the same in an open position elevatedand inwardly of the side wall or the silo. j i

. Llrnother object or the invention comprises in connection with a silo door construction otthe abovetype, the provision of a locking device for retainii-ig thesilo doors in a closed position. 1

i/Vith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement otparts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the am companying drawings, and pointed out in the appendedclaims.

lnthe drawings forming a part of this application andin which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views; I Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a silo constructed in accordance. with the present invention, showing the independent vertically spaced door openingwith one of the openings closed by the improved ladder hinge and silo door,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side 'elevational view oi thesilo showing a door in .closed positionavith the ladder hinge associated with the wallet the silo andthe door, and further l showing the devices for retaii'iingthe door in a closed position,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken online 8--3 of Figure 2 showinga portion fierial No. 566,?75.

oi the ladder hinge connected to the side wall of the silo adjacent the upper end of the door opening,

Figure 4: is a cross sectional view taken on line lV-IV of Figure 2 showing the lower portion of the ladder hinge connected to the silo door and the locking devices for retaining-the door in closed position,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 2 showing the position of the ladderhinge with respect to the silo wall and closure door.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the door in an open elevated position inwardly of the side wall of the silo,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevatlonal view of one of the doors showing one of the locking devices therefor, and

F igure; 8 is a detail sectional View taken on line VHlA-Vllll of Figure 1 showing the weight and cord withthe pulley guides therefor for maintaining the door in an open elevated position.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to F igure 1, there is illustrated a silo embodying a vertical cylindrical wall 1 provided with vertically aligned spaced door openings 2 with an independently operating closure door 3 for each opening, while the, silo has its usual cover wall 4. j i

Each closure door 3 has an independent ladder hinge construction associated therewith, the door 3 being suitably braced by cross bars 5 and 6 at the upper and lower ends thereof, and an intermediate cross brace bar '2' as clearlyillustrated. The upper end oi each ladder hinge construction is associated with thewall 1i" ot'the silo between adjacent door openings 2 as shown in Fig ures 3, 5, and 6,21; ti -shaped strap, bearing 8 being secured to the wall section I adjacent each side of the door opening, the strap bearing 8 carrying a bearing shat't upon which the inner end of a curved bracket arm 9 is oivotally mounted, spacingcollars 10 being associated with the mounting of the inner end oi the bracket arm 9 for holding the same properly positioned against la'teraill shifting movement. The mounting for the lower end of each ladder hinge construction embodies a ll-shapedbracket 11 secured is received within the ti -shaped bearing 11 and is journaled upon the shaft 14- that is axially shittable in the bracket it as clearly shown in Figures l and 7. A link 15 is pivotally connected at its opposite ends as at 16 and 1.? to the adjacent ends oi? the bracket arms 9 and 1. A ladder step 1.8 extends between. the curved portion of the upper bracket arm 9 shown in l igure 5, while a. second ladder step 15) is anchored to the pivotal connection 16 between the lower bracket arms 12 and the connecting link 15. vVhen the door 3 is in a closed position as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, the lower bracket arms 12 occupy a horizontal position with the connectinglink 15 being vertically disposed, this disposition of the ele ment of the ladder hinge construction presenting the straps 18 and 19 at points outwardly of the side wall 1 of the silo, and as the closure doors 3 are arranger l. in close proximity as illustrated in l igure 1., a continuous ladder construction is provided for extenoing the entire height of the silo e1:- teriorly thereof.

To maintain the doors 3 in a closed and locked position, each axially shittable shaft 14; constituting the inner bearing for the lower bracket arm 12 of the ladder hinge construction carries a cam head 20 upon the outer end thereof and acrank handle 21 upon the inner end, the shaft ll, when the doors 3 are in a closed position asillustrated in l igure 3, being axially shiftable to present the cam heads 20 laterally of the door openings 2 for engagement with face plates 22 secured to the outer face of the wall 1 of the silo as clearly shown in Figure 2. Upon axially shifting the shaft 16 and subsequently rotating the same, the cam heads 20 are moved into frictional binding engagement with the face plate 22 for retaining the doors 3 closed and locked within the openings 2.

A pulley guided cord and weight device is selectively associated with each of the doors 3, the inner upper edge of each door being provided with an eye bolt 23 that is selectively engaged by a hook 24L carried by one end of the cord 25, the cord being positioned inwardly of the door opening 2 and passing over a pulley 26 supported upon the inner face of the side wall 1 of the silo above the upper dOOr opening 2'as shown in Figure 1, the cord passing through an opening 27 in the silo wall and then directed over pulleys 28 and 29 supported upon the outer face of the silo wall with a weight 30 carried by the outer lower end of the cord as shown in Figure 1. In opening any of the doors 3, the hook 24: carried by the cord is secured to the eye 28 upon the door, the shaft 14- being then rotated to disengage, the cam heads 24 from the face plate 23, and thereafter axially shifted to position the cam heads 20 inwardly oi the side walls of the door openings, at which time the door 5, \Vlll he olethe side wall of the silo vat-ed inwardly oi to the position shown in lligurc (i, the upper bracket arms 9 ol? the ladder hinge construction pivoting upon the pins carried by the bracket 8 as will at once be obvious.

hen the silo is filled, the cord 25 is socured to the uppermost door i and a person ascending the steps 18 and 19 upon. the ladder hinge construction releases the locking devices associated with said door, and pressure inwardly upon said door will displace lhe material abutting the same and permit the weight 30 to clo ate the door to open po sition shown in. lligurc G. In a like manner, the succeeding lower doors are opened. and it necessary a person may enter an open door and remove only a small portion of: the n'iaterial troni the next lower door to pcrmit free movement thcrco'l' inwardly of' the silo. it being understood that the opm'ating cord 25 is selectively attached. to the successive doors. To restore the doors 3 to their closed positions. the same are lowered against the pressure of the weight 30, the ladder hinge construction being projected through the door opening 2 tor assuming the posit on extcriorly Of the silo as illustrated in Figure 5 to be locked by the cam heads 20 in a rigid position.

While there is herein shown and described vhat is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is nevertheless to he understood that various forms, modifications and arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

d hat is claimed as new is 1. In a silo, wherein the silo wall is provided with. vertically al ned spaced door openings. and wherein a separate door is associated with each opening, a ladder hinge construction carried by each door and embodying bracket arms pivoted to the silo wall between adjacent door openings. bracket arms pivotally mnncclml lo lhc door. and link. connections bclwccu said bracket arms.

2. In a silo, wherein the silo will is pro fill ill)

Vided with vertically alincd spaced door openings, and wherein a separate door is associated with each opening, a ladder hinge construction carried by each and cmbodyingi; bracket arms pivoted to the silo wall between adjacent door openings. bracket arms pivotally connected to the door, link: connections between said bracket arms, and means for holding the door in a closed and locked position.

3. In silo, wherein the silo wall is provided with vertically alined SpllCCtl door openings, and, wherein a separate door is associated with each opening. a ladder hinge construction carried by each door and cm- .i ii 0 tin rinses bodying bracket arms pivoted to the silo wall between adjacent door openings, bracket arms pivotally connected to the door, link connections between said bracket arms, and means associated with the brackets carried by the door for holding the door in a closed and locked position.

4b. In a silo, wherein the silo wall is provided with vertically alined spaced door openings, and wherein a separate door is associated with each opening, a ladder hinge construction carried by each door and embodying bracket arms pivoted to the silo wall between adjacent door openings, bracket arrns pivotally connected to the door, link connections between said bracket arms, the pivotal connections between the last named brackets and the door embodying axially shilt'table shafts, a crank handle upon the inner end of the shaft and a cam head upon the outer end of the shaft adapted to be moved laterally of the door opening for en gagernent with the silo wall for holding the door in a closed and locked position.

5. .lln a silo, wherein the silo wall is prou tilt vided with vertically alined spaced door openings, an independently operating door associated with each opening and connected to the wall of the silo in amanner to move inwardly or the silo when shifted to an open posit-ion, said door when opened occupying a position spaced upwardly of the associated door opening and substantially alined with and parallel to the adjacent upper door, and means selectively connected to the doors for moving the same to an open position.

6. ln a silo, wherein the silo wall is provided with vertically alined spaced door openings, an independently operating door associated with each opening and connected to the wall of the silo in a manner to move inwardly of the silo when shifted to an open position, said door when opened occupying a position spaced upwardly of the associated door opening and substantially alined with and parallel to the adjacent upper door, and a weight selectively connected to the doors for moving the same to an open position.

in testimony whereof ll aflix my signature.

CLETUS M. PlUlETF. 

